Monmouth and Ocean counties are among the 10 healthiest in the state, but they could rise up the ranks if their residents didn't drink so much, a report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation finds.

Monmouth in particular hits the bottle hard; one out of five residents report binge or heavy drinking, the highest level in the state. Ocean residents aren't far behind; 18 percent of their residents report drinking to excess.

Those are some of the findings in the ninth annual County Health Rankings, a 50-state report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin's Population Health Institute that provides comparative data for every county. The data is often used by state officials, health-care organizations and community groups to decide where to direct resources and programming.

Watch the video at the top of this story to learn how many hangover "cures" are merely myths.

Researchers from the two groups argue that good health care extends beyond the quality of doctors and hospitals. It includes access to education, good jobs, healthy food and exercise. And it is the easiest way to slow down the rising cost of health insurance.

"We really are starting to have the conversations statewide around what we need to look at and looking at health a little differently," said Toni Lewis, a health coach with the organizations behind the rankings. "It's not just the opportunity to go to the doctor, but the opportunity to have the social-economic determinants of health."

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has provided grants to towns statewide, encouraging them to bring together a cross-section of experts, including lawmakers, educators, police officials, even teens to come up with a strategy.

New Jersey has made strides. A report by United Health Foundation that looked at the health of women and children found the Garden State ranked 12th nationwide, up seven spots from its previous report in 2016. It was aided by a sharp drop in tobacco use by children ages 12 to 17.

In the County Health Rankings, Monmouth was seventh out of 21 in New Jersey. It had a lower obesity rate and more access to exercise opportunities than even the top U.S. performers.

Ocean ranked 10th. Its adult smoking rate was low enough to be considered among the top U.S. performers.

The Shore, apparently, has other vices. Nearly 20 percent of residents reported heavy drinking — more than one alcoholic drink a day for women and two for men.

That can lead to bad health outcomes, including alcohol poisoning, hypertention, unintended pregnancy, and worse. About 80,000 deaths nationwide are attributed each year to excessive drinking. It can be a factor in suicide, domestic violence and motor vehicle crashes, the report said.

HOW DO THE OTHER COUNTIES FARE?

Top 5 counties

1. Morris

What it does well: Just 15 percent of children live in a single-parent household, half the statewide average.

Room for improvement: The county reported drinking water violations.

2. Hunterdon

What it does well: Only 4 percent of children live in poverty, less than a third of the statewide average of 15 percent.

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